Adaptor unit



P. P. MAYZIK ADAPTOR UNIT March 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

Filed Aug. 24, 1956 FIG. I.

INVENTOR 1J1 %M21AMW/MJ9 m March 25, 1958 P. P. MAYZIK 2,828,394

' ADAPTOR UNIT Filed Aug. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ilk FIG. 7.

INVENTOR fizz/ as United States Patent 1 2,828,394 ADAPTOR UNIT Peter P. Mayzik, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 24, 1956, Serial No. 606,170 1 Claim. (Cl. 200-168) This invention relates generally to improvements in basic wiring devices and more particularly to an improved adaptor unit designed to be used in place of the standard switch and plate.

The conventional switch has a limited life and replacement of the same by a skilled electrician is expensive. Many home owners to save money replace worn out switches and in so doing expose themselves and their property to many dangers such as shocks, shorts, fire hazards, improper wire connections, exposed wires and like hazards.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a simple, practical and eflicient adaptor unit which does not require the services of a skilled electrician to cut off the current, disconnect wires from terminals, insert the new switch, re-connect the wires, replace the switch plate and turn on the current.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved adaptor unit which provides a removable switch plate that has connected thereto a switch or receptacle that may be of any conventional type such as clock outlet, polarized outlet, radio outlet, toggle switch and outlet, switch with pilot light and the like.

An important object is to provide an adaptor receptacle outlet that is removable, but with my invention is allowed to stay in position in the conventional outlet box with its wire connections, since the switch which is usually the worn out part is not connected thereto.

Another object is to provide an adaptor unit that does not require rewiring of switch or receptacle, changes of material, rearranging or reversing of contacts, changes of size, shape or design, or the addition of parts such as bolts, screws, wires, rods, springs or the like.

Many other objects and advantages will become apparent from the foregoing specification and the accompanying drawings in which like indicia designate like parts throughout.

Fig. l is a section on 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1 with a small part broken away. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the adaptor receptacle outlet.

Fig. 4 is a section on 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a reduced elevation of a modified form of plate. Fig. 8 is a form of receptacle outlet used with the plate of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows another modification of a plate from the inside surface, and Fig. 10 shows the adaptor receptacle associated therewith.

Numeral 11 indicates a conventional outlet box used in conjunction with my invention, said box having the usual flange 13, threaded holes 14 and screws 15 for mounting said box in a wall recess. Box 11 has a hole 16 for the reception of a conduit 17, which is fixed in position by lock nuts 18. The usual current carrying wires 19 and 20 are provided.

The adaptor receptacle outlet has a body portion 21, flanges 22 and apertured ears 23 as at 24. It will be noted that flanges 22 and 22a, see Figs. 1 and 4, extend across the entire opening of outlet box 11 so that it is impossible, even when unit C of Fig. 4 is removed, to insert a screw driver to contact wires 19 and 20, or screws 31 and 32 so as to cause a short circuit. A boss 25 on portion 21 has a threaded hole 26 to receive screw 27 for connection of plate C and adaptor B. Body portion 21 has a reduced portion 28 which carries a contacting strip 29, see Fig. 3, for wire 19. A similar strip 30 contacts wire 20, screws 31 and 32 clamp wires 19 and 20 in position.

The plate switch unit C has a toggle switch with a body portion 33 integral with flange 34 of said plate. Holes 35 of plate C align with boss 25 to receive screws 27.

Prongs 36 and 37 extend from portion 33 to make contact with strips 29 and 30, as indicated in Fig. 4, to complete the circuit.

The toggle switch has a spring charged member 38, including spring 40, the same holding switch lever 39 in position. It is understood that parts like 21, 33 and 34 are made of insulating material, and the same applies to the modified forms.

Fig. 7 is a reduced elevation of a modified form of plate G having therein a dual receptacle unit 50 and 51 in body portion 34a, and apertures 35a for fastening. Fig. 8 shows the mating adaptor comprising ears 23a, holes 24a, flange 22a and contacting elements 52.

Fig. 9 shows a modification having a three way switch and a service receptacle, the plate I having a body portion 60 and plate portion 61. Holes 62 fasten said plate in position and contacting prongs 63 for the switch and 64 for the receptacle complete the structure.

Fig. 10 shows an inside elevation of a modified adaptor receptacle outlet having the unit K provided with a body portion 70 formed with flange 72. The ears 73 have holes 74. A reduced portion 75 of 70, has terminal screws 76 for a 3-way switch and screw 77 for a receptacle.

From Figs. 1 and 4 it is obvious that when prongs 36 and 37 are inserted, the current in wires 19 and 20 is in circuit. When the plate C and switch thereon have to be replaced they are merely pulled out and another unit is plugged in. The wires which are connected at 31 and 32, see Fig. l, are protected from being touched because of flanges 22 and 22a, and therefore all danger of shock and other troubles are avoided and the replacement is simplified to a point where no special skill or tools are needed.

From the foregoing it is evident that I have provided a safe, clean, practical and commercial device that can be applied in millions of homes and buildings with a great saving in time and money.

The drawings are merely illustrative and I hereby reserve the right to make numerous changes in the size, shape, material and arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

The combination of an outlet box fixed to a support, and having electrical conductor wires extending therein, with an adaptor receptacle outlet which extends into said box, and operatively connects to said wires said adaptor having co-extensive flanges removably fixed to said box, said flanges covering the entire open portion of said box to prevent access to the electrical conductor wires and the screws which clamp said wires to the adaptor receptacle outlet, and a plate switch unit detachably fixed to said adaptor whereby access to the interior of the outlet box is completely cut off even when the plate switch unit is removed so that an unskilled person, such as a housewife, cannot insert a metal object such as a screw driver or kitchen tool to accidently contact the screws or penetrate the insulation around the current carrying wires and thereby cause an accident.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

